Supplemental collapsible table top



June 5, 1951 J. M.- KELLEGHAN 2,555,547

SUPPLEMENTAL COLLAPSIBLE TABLE TOP Filed Peo. l1, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "122, Ul "i1/z; JNVENTOR.

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Patented `lune 1951 UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,555,547 SUPPLEMENTAL ooLLAPsIBLE fluiLny Tor Joseph Martin Kelleghan, Flint, Mich.

Application December 11, 1946, Serial No. 715,533

8 Clairns. 1

AThis invention relates to table tops and more particularly to table tops Which can be disassembled or collapsed.

In the past, large game tables, such aspoker tables, have been very large and cumbersome, and when not in use have required a great deal of storage space. This has proved to be impractical for people living in places With limited storage space and therefore many people Who Would desire such a large game table have not purchased the same because of the storage feature.

It is therefore the primary object of this inven tion to provide a large supplemental table top which can be quickly disassembled and stored as a relatively small package.

Other principal objects of this invention are: to provide a large table top which can be se* cured to and supported on la conventional card table; to provide a table top of the aforementioned type which is formed with a plurality of depressions therein adapted to receive complementally shaped serving trays or poker chips, cards, dice or the like; to provide a table top of the aforementioned type which is formed with a plurality of depressions therein for receiving ash traysandl glass holders; to provide a table top of the aforementioned type which can be stacked when notin use into a neat, compact package; and to provide a table top of the aforementioned type which is especially attractive in appearance, simple to assemble and disassemble, and rugged in construction.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accom panying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial plan view of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig.v 3 is an exploded plan View of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken yalong the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a 'cross-sectional vieW taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 1 1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 8 8 of Fig. 2;

, Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 9 9k of Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View of the struc- 2 ture inusnfated in Fig. 7, taken along the line Ill-l i] thereof;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an ash tray for use with the table top of this invention;

Fig. 12 is a perspective View of one embodiment of a glass holder for use with the table top of this invention;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a serving tray for use with the tabl top of this invention; and

Fig. lll is a view, partially in elevationwand partially in section, of a further embodiment of the invention. A

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. l, it will be seen that the table top of this invention, generally indicated at I5, comprises four peripheral elements l'l, I9, 2| and 23 which, When interconnected, `form an Octagon shaped outer portion for the table top, and acentral table top portion 25 supported by said periphe'ral elements, as will be hereinafter brought out in detail. The entire table top l5 can be supported on a conventional card table, generally indieated at 21, in a manner which will be brought out hereinafter in detail. Y V A Each of the peripheral elements I1, I9, 2| and 273, is identical in construction, and similar part numbers for one, therefore, refer t'osimilar parts in all four of the elements. For purposes ofdescription, the peripheral element I1 Vvvijll` be described in detail. This element is formed `by a stamping operation on a singlev piece of sheet metal orby molding when made of plastic, metal, or other moldablernaterial. As` can be seen in Fig. 2, the peripheral element Il is formed With two substantially like portions i8 and Zndisposed in angular relation so that the' included1 angle' is substantially The element is provided `on its upper `suriacewith `a pair of similarly shaped depressions or trays 29 and 3|, one in each of the like portions llil and 2U, respectively.. These depressions` are of a suitable size and shape to receive a serving tray 33 illustrated in Fig. 13. The depressions 29 and 3| can be used to retain poker chips', cards, dice or the' like when the table top 23 is being used Without the servingA tray. Adjacent to each side of the depression 2S, is a pair of depressions 35 and 3l or" ootagon or other shape which are adapted to receive complementally shaped ash 'trays 39, shown detail in Fig. 11. inwardly of the ash tray receiving portions 35 and 3l, the upper surfacefof` they peripheral element Il is provided with` depressions 4l and 43, respectively, which are of anL Octagon 3 or other shape and which have an opening 45 extending through the bottom wall thereof. The depressions and 43, with the opening 45 therethrough, are adapted to receive a glass holder 49 shown in detail in Fig. 12. rlhis glass holder 19 is of an annular shape and has a flange 5| around the upper end thereof, which ange is adapted to be supported by the bottom wall of the depressions 4| and 13, adjacent to the opening 45, with the body of the holder 139 extending through the opening 55. Y

The outer edge of the peripheral elementV |1Y is formed with a rolled ange 53 which extends along the entire length of the element. Adjacent to the left end of the peripheral element l1, the rounded flange 53 is provided with an opening 55 therethrough into which a lock element, generally designated at 51, is inserted. The lock element 51 comprises a handle 59 pivotally mounted on a shaft' portion 6|. The shaft portion 5| has a cap element 63 secured thereto adjacent to the handle 59 which is adapted to abut against the 5 outside of the flange 53. The portion of the shaft 6| positioned inwardly of the liange 53 is provided with a washer 55 which prevents withdrawal of the lock element 51 through the opening 55. The inner end of the shaft 6| is formed Y with a hub 51 thereon which has a bayonet type slot arrangement 68 therein which is adapted to engage a wire element on the adjacent peripheral j element 23 to lock the elements |1 and 23 toelement to a point adjacent to the right-hand end thereof. Extending inwardly from the lower inner edge of the bead 1| is a horizontal flange 13. Depending vertically from the horizontal flange at a point inwardly of the depression 2S, is a'tab element 1d, the use of which will be described later. Adjacent to the left-hand end of the peripheral element |1, at the corner where the bead 1| and peripheral element |1 change direction to form another side of the octagonal periphery of the table top, the bead 1| is widened to form a horizontal triangular flange or surface 11 in extension of the top surface of the bead 1| on both sides of the point 15. Below the flange 11, the side wall of the bead 1| is cut out to provide a slot 19 and the horizontal flange 13 immediately inwardly of the slot 19 is offset downwardly, as at 8|, to increase the distance between the upper ilange 11 and the lower ange 13, as illustrated in Fig. 10. The portion of the bead 1| immediately inwardly of the glass holder depression 43, at the corner 83 where the direction of the bead changes to form another side of the Octagon, is also provided with a triangularly shaped upper flange 85 below which the side wall of the bead 1| is cut away to provide a slot 81. It will be noted that the center of both the flange 85 and flange 11 is upwardly ared to provide a bell mouth 89 for a use which will be herein-AV after described. The bead portion 1| on the right-hand end of the peripheral element |1 is, as illustrated in Fig. 4, stepped down and tapered downwardly and outwardly as at 9| for a reason which will be hereinafter brought out.

The right-hand end of the rolled outer ange 53 of the peripheral element |1 is provided with aV vertical elongated slot 93, and a diagonal wire element 95 is secured to the inner surface of the flange 53 on opposite sides of the slot 93 such'` as by rivets 91, so that the wire element extends across the face of the vertical slot S3. The wire element 55 is adapted to be gripped by the bayonet slotted hub 51 on the lock element 55 of the adjacent peripheral element I1. When the two peripheral elements l1 and 23 are interconnected, it will readily appear that the lock element 51 can be turned to engage the wire element and draw the two peripheral elements together and lock them securely to each other. rlhe lock is readily released when it is desired to disengage the various peripheral elements and is not limited to the particular construction herein illustrated and described, as other elements, known in the art to be suitable, may be substituted therefor.

Inwardly of the flange 53, the right hand of the peripheral element |1 is provided with a depressed portion 53 which is yprovided with a circular opening lill therein, intermediate its inner and outer ends, which' is adapted, when the pe ripheral elementsY |1 and I9 are assembled, to be aligned with the glass holder opening 45 in the adjacent peripheral element I9. The inner end of the depressed portion 9S extends upwardly to form a tongue |53 which is separated from the flange 13 by an arcuate slot |55 for a purpose which will be hereinafter brought out.

To assemble the peripheral element |1 to the peripheral element i9, the left-hand end of the peripheral element |9 is laid over the top of the depressed portion 5S of the element |1 and the tongue |03 of the element |1 is inserted inwardly through Vthe slot 19 inthe element I9 so as to overlap the horizontal ange 13 thereon. It will be noted that the left-hand end of the bead 1| of the element I9 rests over the tapered portion 9| on the right end of the bead 1| of the element I1. In this way, a pivotal action is permitted between the two elements which, as will be hereinafter brought out, is necessary for easy assembly and disassembly of the two parts. When the element i9 is so lapped over the element I1, the lock mechanism 51 on the element |19 is then forced inwardly into engagement with the wire element 95 on the inner surface of the ange 53 of the element |1. The lock element 51 is then turned to engage the wire element in the bayonet slot arrangement in the lock element and the members are then firmly locked together. When this is accomplished, it will be noted that the glass holder opening 45 in the element I9 is aligned with the opening lil! in the depressed portion 99 of the element l1. The glass holder 49 can then be inserted. through the two openings 45 and IUI to further add to the rigidity of the connection between the two members. The peripheral element 2| can then be similarly connected to the peripheral element I9, and the peripheral element 23 can then be interconnected in the same manner with the elements |1 and 2| to form a completed Vinterconnected outer portion for the table top.

The central table top portion 25 which, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is foldable along the center vline |01, likewise allowing it to be collapsed Vinto central portion is inserted within its respective slot 19 or 81 formed in the bead 'Il along the entire inner periphery of the outer table top portion as the elements are assembled together thereabout. The bell mouths 88 formed on each of the flanges 85 and 11, respectively, allow the corners or the central table top portion 25 to be easily inserted into the slots and reduce the danger of tearing the felt on top o i the portion 25. If desired, the felt covering at each corner of the central portion 25 can be covered with a thin protector plate of metal or other material so as to completely eliminate the danger' of tearing the felt when the central portion corners are inserted in the outer portion slots.

As each of the elements Il, I9, 2l and 23 is assembled to an adjacent element, the slots 'I9 and 81 thereof are advanced over the adjacent corners of the central table top portion 25. As pointed out hereinabove, the connection between the elements is such as to permit a pivoted action to occur therebetween so that they can be drawn inwardly about the central table top portion due to the arcuate shape of the end of the slot |05. The table top portion will be supported on the horizontal ilange I3 formed in wardly of the bead II and will be retained in xed relation thereto by the the engagement of its corners within the slots 'i9 and 8l.

To retain the table top I5 on the card table 21, the tab elements 'Iii provided on the inner edge of each of the peripheral elements and oppositely disposed from each other, engage each side edge of the table. The table top I5 cannot then be moved with respect to the card table unless it is lifted upwardly therefrom.

To disassemble the table top I5, the serving trays, ash tray and glass holders are removed and the lock elements 51 are then unlocked and, due to the tapered ends 9| on the beads Il adjacent to the tongues lil3, each peripheral element can then be swung out of engagement with the central table top portion 25 and with its adjacent element because of the presence of the arcuate end of the slot |95. The central portion 25 can then be folded and the peripheral elements stacked together. The entire table top can then be transported and stored as a rela-= tively small package.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 14, the table top I5 is illustrated as mounted upon its own table legs I I I. The tabs 'It are provided with an elongated vertical slot |09 and the four legs I I I are provided at their upper ends with a Vertical slot l|3 adapted to receive the tab 'I4 therein. The legs are then secured to the tabs by inserting a bolt II5 through the lateral openings Illl in legs III and through the slots Ill!! in the tabs 14. A thumb nut II'I is then screwed onto the threaded ends of the bolt and tightened against the outer surface of the leg to rigidly secure the legs to the tabs. Intermediate the upper and lower ends of the legs I I, horizontal supporting bars I I9 are provided which are connected at their opposite ends by hinges I2l to the adjacent legs. Each bar H9 is split at its center, as at 123, and a hinge |25 is provided to hingedly connect the two split halves of each bar IIB. When the legs are removed from the table top I5, the bars II9 may be folded upwardly at their center to allow the four legs to be drawn together into a small compact package for storage along with the other compact lparts of the disassembled table top.

While the invention has been illustrated and described with reference to a game table, it is to be understood that the invention is not so re stricted and that the table may be used for picnics, camping trips and the like when suitable dishes,- cups and trays are provided, such as herein shown, from which food may be served.

What is claimed is:

l. In a collapsible table top, a plurality of peripheral elements forming the outer portion thereof, each of said peripheral elements having an inwardly extending horizontal iiange formed on the inner periphery thereof, a central table top portion positioned on and supported by said horizontal flanges, said table top portion having a plurality of corners, a bead formed adjacent to said horizontal flange and having slots therein to receive the corners of said central table top portion and secure it to said peripheral elements, an underlapping portion formed on the opposite end of each of said peripheral elements which underlaps the opposite end of an adjacent element, and a tongue on said underlapping portion which projects through one of said slots and overlaps said horizontal flange.

2. In a collapsible table top, a plurality of peripheral elements forming the outer portion thereof, each of said peripheral elements having an inwardly extending horizontal flange formed on the inner periphery thereof, a Central table top portion positioned on and supported by said horizontal flanges, said table top portion having a plurality of corners, a .bead formed adjacent to said horizontal flange and having slots therein to receive a corner of said central top portion and secure it to said peripheral elements, an underlapping portion formed on the opposite end of each of said peripheral elements which. underlaps the opposite end of an adjacent element, a tongue on said underlapping portion which projects through one of said slots and overlaps said horizontal flange, and lock means for releasably securing each of said peripheral elements to its adjacent overlapping peripheral element.

3. In a collapsible table top, a peripheral element formed of a single stamping a plurality of which form the outer peripheral portion of the top, one end of each element being formed to overlie the opposite end of the element and to interlock therewith so that the first end of one element may overlie the other end of an adjacent element and to interlock therewith to form a rigid peripheral assembly.

4. In a collapsible table top, a peripheral ele ment formed of a single stamping a plurality of which form the outer peripheral portion of the top, one end of each element being formed to overlie the opposite end of the element and to interlock therewith so that the first end of one element may overlie the other end of an adjacent element and to interlock therewith to form a rigid peripheral assembly, and releasable looking members one located at each of said ends to interlock with an associated member of an adjacent element.

5. In a collapsible table top, a peripheral element formed of a single stamping a plurality of which form the outer peripheral portion of the top, one end of each element being formed to overlie the opposite end of the element and to interlock therewith so that the rst end of one element may overlie the other end of an adjacent element and to interlock therewith to form a rigid peripheral assembly, releasable locking members one located at each of said ends to in-i 7 terlock with an associated member of an adjacent element, and a central top portion having projecting corners extending into the inner peripheral edge of the assembled elements to be supported thereby. Y

6. A collapsible table top including four like Y v interconnecting peripheral elements having portions oi substantially 135 relationship to each other, the ends of said portions being formed to interlock and overlie each other so that one end of one element may overlie and interlock with the opposite end of an adjacent element, the inner peripheral edge of each member having at one end and at the central portion a slot, and a central'table top portion of octagonal shape having the corner portions inserted in said slots when the elements are assembled therearound.

8. A collapsible table top including four like interconnecting peripheral elements having portions of substantially 135 relationship to each other, the ends of said portions being formed to interlock and overlie each other so that one end of one element may overlie and interlock with the opposite end of an adjacent element, the

`8 inner peripheral edge of each member havingat one end and at the central portion a slot, a central table top portion of octagonal shape having the corner portions inserted in said slots when the elements are assembled therearound, and complementary locking members carried at opposite ends of the element so that the overlying interlocked portions may be locked together by said members.

JOSEPH MARTIN KELLEGHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 835,630 Mason Apr. 21, 1908 899,267 Sheehan Sept. 22, 1908 1,234,270 Blackburn rJuly 24, 1917 1,302,703 Polhanius May 6, 1919 1,544,935 Preston July 7, 1925 1,655,607 Hueter Jan. 10, 1928 1,886,806 Hanley Nov. 8, 1932 1,904,897 Kahrs Apr. 18, 1933 1,921,645 Williams et al Aug. Y8, 1933 1,967,979 Stern July 24, 1934 2,092,441 Ciprus Sept. 7, 1937 2,175,572 Ruhl Oct. 10, 1939 2,210,972 Christenson Aug. 13, 1940 2,322,089 Greitzer June l5, 1943 2,476,535 Denson July 19, 194.9 

